Yaroomba classic brings out the best

THE Coast's favourite weekend of surfing and socialising is on this Saturday and Sunday.

The 28th annual Yaroomba Classic will again bring together surfers between the Maroochy River and Marcus Beach.

The area's premier surfers will again be all out in an attempt to get their name on the Rod Marshall Memorial Shield as winner of the open division.

Over the years the Classic has grown to 11 divisions catering for male and female surfers from under-14 to over-50.

The weekend's activities will commence with the official draw announced at a club social Dominos pizza night at Compound Surf and Coffee on Friday night.

All club members are invited to bring the family for a few drinks and something to eat.

It starts at 6pm and it will finish early to ensure all those old masters and legends are in prime condition for a big weekend of surfing.

The Masters and Legends divisions this year are some of the most hotly contested divisions.

Many of these competitors were open and junior surfers at the original Yaroomba Classic back in 1987.

Club president Chris Barraclough was an open surfer in the original event and he said not much has changed, these guys are all still super competitive.

"Chris 'critta' Reynolds is fighting fit and he will be hard to beat in the Masters," he said.

"These divisions are seriously contended at our boardrider club rounds and a few old local legends will show up and fire up for this event. It will be good."

Chris said Chris Kendall, Scott Mitchell, Grant Jenkins and Joel Stevens were all juniors back in those days and now they form a part of a red hot and very competitive masters division.

"Last year's open winner Kelly Norris will not be surfing because of work commitments so this year the open division is wide open."

Coolum Boardriders president Chris Barraclough said the event was as much a social event as a competition.

"The Classic is a truly unique event as it specifically focuses on the local surfing population.

"Local surfers not competing all should still come down for a cold drink, watch some great surfing and catch up with old mates," he said.

Chris thanked all the local businesses who helped make the event a great success every year and an integral part of our local surfing culture.

Presentations will be held at the Coolum Boardriders Clubhouse in Tickle Park late Sunday afternoon then Surfair are providing busses for all members and guests to their hotel to watch footy finals and to continue the Classic celebrations.